Waynesburg captures PAC crown
WAYNESBURG – Maybe the Waynesburg College football team and Aretha Franklin have more in common than anyone thought. After defeating Westminster, 34-20, in the cold, blustery air at John F. Wiley Stadium to clinch the conference title, the Yellow Jackets finally got the respect that Franklin sang for in her classic anthem. Part of that perceived disrespect came from a pre-season ranking at the fourth spot within the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, which motivated the team throughout its 9-1 season, only the second time in school history that the team has won nine games.
“Those posters of us being ranked fourth are highlighted around the locker room,” said Brandon Doppelheuer, a senior defensive lineman. “We knew those teams weren’t better than us. We might finally get some respect.”
For head coach Jeff Hand, the impact of the win hasn’t registered. The title is Waynesburg’s first as a member of the PAC, and the first conference title the school has won in football since 1968. “It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Hand said after the victory, holding onto the championship trophy. “It was a true team game. We’ve beaten some solid teams, Westminster being one of them, this year.”
After defeating the vaunted, defending-champion Washington & Jefferson Presidents in their last home game, the Jackets put it to the Westminster defense, rushing for 308 yards behind the stellar individual performances of freshmen Ryan Abels and Eric Daniels. Abels reached 100 yards by halftime, accumulating 176 and a touchdown in all. Daniels might have been even more powerful, rushing for 133 yards and two touchdowns, both in the fourth quarter, when Waynesburg seemed to need it most.
Earlier in the game, the Titan’s Brian Ekis caught a 59-yard touchdown strike from Joe Getsy, pulling the Titans within three points at 10-7 in the second quarter.
Ekis would finish with four catches for 113 yards. Daniels barely let the Westminster crowd sit down from their touchdown applause, however, before he ripped off an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He slipped multiple tackles during the run before bursting past three Titan defenders for Waynesburg’s first touchdown kick return on the season.
“I tried hard to get (a touchdown return) all year,” said Daniels. He added that his small stature, at just five-foot-five and 150 pounds actually aids his running ability.
“They can’t see me and they can’t catch me,” the Clinton, Md., native quipped.
For Westminster, the loss was particularly tough to swallow because a share of the PAC title, along with Waynesburg and W&J, was still an option if the Titans were victorious.
Waynesburg’s 428 to 369 yard edge in total offense and the Titan’s inability to convert on third downs gave Westminster head coach Jerry Schmitt constant problems as his team tried to play catch-up late in the fourth quarter.
Shippensburg 35, California, Pa. 0
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. (AP) – John Kuhn scored three touchdowns and Rick Henshaw passed for 245 yards to lead Shippensburg to a win over California, Pa.
California (4-7, 2-4 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West) threatened early, driving to the Shippensburg 13 before John Andrews intercepted John Aitken’s pass at the 5-yard line.
Two possessions later, Shippensburg (8-3, 4-2) marched 96 yards for a score, the first of four straight scoring drives that put them up 28-0 with 11 seconds left in the half.
Kuhn ran 22 times for 105 yards and had two receptions for 47 yards for Shippensburg, raising his season totals to 1,500 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns.
The Red Raiders held California to 71 yards of total offense, posting three sacks and three interceptions.
Clarion 19, Slippery Rock 17
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (AP) – Mark Hofmeister kicked two field goals, including a 49-yarder that tied a school record, as Clarion beat Slippery Rock in the season finale for both teams.
Hofmeister’s 18-yard field goal with 10:47 left in the game proved to be the winning points for Clarion (3-8, 2-4 PSAC-West).
Buffalo St. 10, Washington & Jefferson 7
WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) – Ken Ciolek’s 34-yard field goal with just over two minutes left, combined with two late interceptions by Buffalo State’s defense, gave the Bengals a upset win over Washington & Jefferson.
Washington & Jefferson (8-2) entered the game ranked No. 17 in NCAA Division III, but couldn’t overcome Brent Marsteller’s three interceptions and Buffalo State’s ball control offense, which kept the ball for more than 33 minutes.
Edinboro 48, Lock Haven 13
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (AP) – Dru Robinson rushed for 128 yards and Edinboro jumped out to a 28-0 lead on the way to a win over Lock Haven.
Edinboro (9-2, 5-1 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West) scored on a 70-yard run by Dru Robinson 48 seconds into the game. Matt Phillips and Brandon Munson each had 7-yard TD runs in the second quarter.